Construction of eyeglasses



May 1, 1923.

G. w. M KlNSTRY ET AL CONSTRUCTION OF EYEGLASSES Filed March 1, 1920 a thou 24 Fatented May 1, 1923.

GEORGE w. raenrns'rny AND lwrnnun H. .srnnann, or

ar rnneono, ivrnsseonnsnrrs, assrenons r BAY srnrn OPTICAL COMPANY,1OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ACORPORATION or MAINE.

,consrnncrron or nrnerlessns.

Application filed Ma da 1, 1920. seri 382467'L' To all whom itma concern: Be it known that we, Gnonen W. Mo- KINsTRY and WILBUR H. SIDDALL, both citi- Zens of the United States, and residents of 5 Attleboro, county of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inthe Construction of Eyeglasses, of

, whichthe following is a specificatlon. This'invention relates to the construction of eyeglasses. One of the objects thereof is to provide a device of the above type of simple and durable construction. objectis to provide a device of the above type adapted to withstand extreme cond tions of use without injury. Another object is to provide a device of the abovetype of attractive appearance adapted to main-' tain such appearance under hard conditions of use. Anotherobject is toprovide a simple and practical art of making an eyeglass which may be quickly and conveniently c'arriedon, Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out here inafter.

features of construction, combinations of elements, arrangement of parts, and in the several steps and relation and order of each of .the same to oneor more of the other steps, all as will be illustratively"described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of various possible embodi- 5 ments of the mechanical features of this in vention,

Figure 1- is a rear view of a pair of eyeglasses;

Figure 2 is a sectional View on an en- 40 larged scale taken along the line 22 of Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail elevation of an end connection;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the parts shown in Figure 3; and Figure 5 is anenlarged rear view partially in section illustrating the point of connection with the bridge of the rim; Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

As conducive to a better understanding of certain features of this invention, it may Bristol, and State of.

Another The invention accordingly consists in the be noted that under varying conditions of temperature and moisture, substances -analogous to celluloid'tend to shrink or expand.

In an art of this nature,jwhere appearance" is at a premium and security of attachment is valuable in a like degree, thisfva riationi in size or shape withatendency to -render.

the glasses unsightly, or loosen the mounting of the lens,.is peculiarly objectionable.

Toobviate this defect in-a simple'and prac-j tical manner without sacrifice of other -ad vantageous features, is among the dominant aims of this invention.

Referring now to tail, there is shown a pair of eyeglasses comprising broadly the bridge 10, lenses 11 and rims 12. Although these eyeglasses are'illustra'ted as of the spectacle-form with pro these drawings in as: I

vision for connection to temple bars, it'is to'be understood that the term eyeglasses is to be used in a broad sense and that many of the features of this invention are ap plicable to devices .of this sort which are held in position by pressurefiaga'inst the nose. It may also be noted at this point that the term OutWard isused to designate av general radialoutward direction with respect to the center of the lens, the term inward obviously having an opposite Sig nificanoe. Further, the term end piece is used in a broad sense, and it may denote one part of a two-piece memberor a simi-' lar device. I

Considering now the construction ofthes'e I devices more indetail, the bridge 10, is

connected directly, from therear with'an" inner metallic riminember 13. This con? nection comprises the usual forwardly ex-fv tending end arm of the bridge shown in*- cross section at 14 in Figure 5" of the drawings which is permanently jointed at this point to the above metallic rim member. As both sides of the eyeglassesv are substantially identical, the construction of one side only will be described.

'Rim member 13 extends aboutthe lens' 11 in both directions and is preferably of the inwardly'concave form showmadapted to grip the edge of'the lens. The ends of this rim member are respectively secured to I end pieces 15and 16, preferably by solder: v A

ing, the connection beingshownin end view in Figure 4 of the drawings. As the con;

v..rest directly against themember 13.

In the illustrative embodiment shown, the end pieces are provided with the openings 18 and 19, the former of which receives a screw or other fastening device 20 by which the end pieces are secured together, holding the rim about the lens. The opening 19 is for the pivot 19 of the swinging temple bar, the latter device not being shown as a it forms in itself no part of the present invention.

Recurring now to the general construction of the rim, there is provided an outer rim member 21 formed of celluloid, the lat ter term being broadly used to comprehend analogous non-metallic substances. Th s outer rim member follows about the metalllc member 13 substantially in the relation shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. The

inner edges 22 of member 21 are, preferably with the latter in a condition softened by heat, swaged or pressed inwardly to interlock with the edges of the metallic member. This interlocking construction, however,'although it prevents separation of the parts in ,a radial direction, is preferably not sotight as to prevent a relative longitudinal movement. Also there is provided preferably an air space 23 between the outer surface of the member 13 and the opposing surface of the'member 21, whereby a slight relative inward and outward movement of these parts is permitted. Thus with a tendency of the celluloid to shrink or expand,

. such movement does no harm. The result,

furthermore, is achieved insofar as these features of this invention are concerned, not by the difficult expedient of resisting and preventing the movement, but rather by freely allowing such movement to occur and yet rendering it harmless.

Turning once more to the end construction, the ends of the rim members 21 are fitted within the pockets 17, preferably interlocking throughout their length with the metal member 13. .Although certain fea tures of this invention maybe achieved if these ends of the member 21 are locked within the sleeves or collars 17 nevertheless it is preferred that these parts have a slip joint connection. In other words, the end of the member 21 as it contracts longitudi nally in shrinking, is preferably not held 21 toward the member 13 to take place, the

movement inwardly being substantially in a direction toward the center of the lens. The non-metallic member 21 is thus permitted to contract substantially diametrically and in so doing counteracts or limits the tendency of the longitudinal shrinkage to separate its ends. The socket construction however prevents the opening of any unsightly joint between the end of rim member 21 and the end piece. Thus as rim member 21 shrinks or expands, it is not only permitted to move inwardly and outwardly with respect to the lens, but also preferably may draw endwise, all without weakening the security of mounting of the lens or changing in the slightest degreethe appearance of the eyeglasses.

It is believed that the act-ion of the device will be clear from the above, and the art whereby this composite rim member is built up will be briefly set forth as follows. The metallic rim member is formed as shown and the non-metallic or outer member, is formed into a rim with its extreme tips somewhat more widely spaced than in Figure 20f the drawings, otherwise its cross-section being as shown therein. The metallic rim member is then inserted within these end flanges of the celluloid rim, the latter are thereupon preferably heated, and arepreferably pressed inwardly at their extreme ends to such an extent as to interlock with the metal member, the parts being so held'as to provide the air space 23 during this operation and during the subsequent operation of cooling of the celluloid. It is to be noted that this air space construction permitting relative inward and outward movement even without the interlocking of the edges is of value although there are many advantages in the latter feature.

It will thus'be seen that there is provided apparatus and an art in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and in which the advantages hereinbefore referred to are gained. c i

As various possible embodiments might be made of the mechanical features of the above invention and as the art herein described might be varied in various parts, all without departing from the'scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter herein, set forth or shown in they accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim as our invention v 1. In eyeglass construction, in combination, an end piece, a non-metallic rim mem ber terminating adjacent thereto, means mounting said rim member and permitting movement of its end relative to said end piece, and means covering the end joint between said rim member and said end piece.

2. In eyeglass construction, in combination, an end piece, a non-metallic rim member, a part connected to said end piece within which the end of said rim member fits and is mounted to slide, and means limiting the extent of said sliding movement of said end of said rim member within said part.

said rim members being connected to per mit an inward or outward movement of said non-metallic rim member relative to said metallicrim member.

5. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a non-metallic rim member, a metallic rim member on the inner side thereof and mounted to engage the edge of a -lens,said rim members being connected to permit an inward or outward movement of said-nonmetallic rim member relative to said metallic rim member, and means adapted to limit said movement. i

6. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a metallic rim member, and a non-metallic rimmember positioned outside the same and shaped to interlock therewith at its edges and spaced therefrom in an outward direction.

7 In eyeglass construction, in combination, ametallic rim member, and an outer non-metallic rim member embracing the same having a portion spaced therefrom and a portion interlocked therewith, said members being slidably connected to permit relative endwise movement.

8. In eyeglass construction, in combina tion, a non-metallic rim member, a metallic rim member on the inner side thereof and mounted to engage the edge of a lens, said rim members being connected to permit an inward or outward movement of said nonmetallic rim member relative to said metallic rim member, an end piece to which said metallic rim member is secured, and means forming a pocket in which the end of said non-metallic member is slidably fitted.

9. In eyeglass construction, in combina tion, a metall c rim member, an outer nonmetallic rim member embracing the same,

said members beinglslidably connected to permit relative endwise movement, an end piece to which said-metallic rim member is connected, and means forming a 'pocket within which the end of said non-metallicmemher is slidably fitted. a, 1 0. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a metallic rim member, an outer nonmetallic rim member embracing the same,

and interlocked with its side edges, said members being slidably connected to permit relative endwise movement, and end piece adjacent the end of said non-metallic rim member, and means mounting the end of said non-metallic rim member and permitting movement of its end relative to said end piece. 7 r a 11.111 eyeglass construction, in combination, a non-metallic rim member, a metallic rim member on the inner. side thereof and mounted to engagethe edge of a lens, said rim members being connected to. permit an inward or outward movement of said nonmetallic rim member relative to said me tallic rim member, and means adapted to limit said movement, said rim members being related to permit relative endwise move ment therebetween. p i

12. In eyeglass construction, in combination, an end piece providedwith a pocket, a

metallic rim member secured to saidend piece, and a non-metallic rim member positioned outside said metallic rim member and embracing the same to interlock therewith, said rim members being related to permit relative movement in an outward or a longitudinal direction and the end of said nonmetallic member being slidably fitted within said pocket. v

13. The herein described art of forming an eyeglass rim member, which comprises mounting an inner metallic member within an outer non-metallic membenandforcing saidnon metallic member into interlocking relation with said metallic member toa degree to prevent separation and permit relative longitudinal movement and relative movement inwardly and outwardly.

14:. The herein described art of forming aneyeglass rim member, which comprises mounting an inner metallic member within an outer non-metallic member, with said members relatively spaced in an outward direction, and forcing'said non-metallic member intoposition to interlockwith said metallic member and prevent separation thereof while permitting relative movement in an inward and outward direction.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification this 18day of- February, 1920. J

GEORGE W. MoKINSTRY. WILBUB H. SIDDALL. 

